Ingredients
Quality ingredients make all the difference. Each component plays a crucial role.
1 oz
1 oz
1 oz
0.5 oz
1 oz
0.5 oz
0.5 oz
Method
Technique transforms ingredients into something extraordinary.
Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice
Shake vigorously for 15 seconds
Strain into a collins glass filled with crushed ice
Garnish with mint sprig and pineapple leaves
Glassware
Served over crushed ice in a collins glass
Garnish
Mint sprig
Pineapple leaf crown
Master's Tips
Professional insights to elevate your craft
Flash-blend with crushed ice for proper texture
Use a mix of light, gold, and overproof rums for depth
Garnish with a mint sprig to provide aromatic contrast
Variations & Riffs
Classic cocktails inspire countless variations. Here are some popular riffs on the Zombie.
1934 Zombie
The original Donn Beach Zombie with gold Puerto Rican rum, dark Jamaican rum, and 151-proof Demerara rum—the authentic recipe that launched the tiki craze.
1950 Zombie
Donn Beach's simplified home version of the Zombie from his 1950 'Barbecue Chef' book—more approachable yet still potent with a dramatic 151 rum float.
Trader Vic Zombie
A potent and complex tiki cocktail that simplified and popularized Don the Beachcomber's original secret recipe. Victor Bergeron's more approachable version helped make the Zombie a global staple of Polynesian-themed restaurants.
History & Heritage
“Donn Beach unveiled the Zombie in 1934 at his Hollywood bar, blending multiple rums with lime, falernum, and secret spices. Its 151-proof punch and exotic presentation sparked tiki mania and forced Beach to limit guests to two. Rival Trader Vic created his own version, and the recipe mutated through decades until historian Jeff Berry unearthed Beach's guarded formulas, restoring the drink's complex balance.”
More to Explore
If you enjoyed this cocktail, these similar creations might capture your interest.
Frozen Hurricane
The New Orleans storm turned slushy—rum, passion fruit, citrus, and grenadine blended with ice.
Mango Colada
A lush, tropical cocktail that represents a natural and sublime evolution of its famous parent, the Piña Colada, by introducing the rich, honeyed sweetness of mango.
Bacardi Cocktail
A pre‑Prohibition rum sour—white rum, lime juice, and a blush of grenadine shaken icy cold.